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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Slightly different (alternative 15 sided biscornu)

While I was off work last week, I finished off my biscornu using the blackwork designs from Anita at Stitch Creations. I still finished it as a kind of 15 sided biscornu, but slightly different!

Following this idea, I attached the top on a different orientation - very simply but a very different result!

I've stitched it on 32ct Vintage Blue Zweigart linen using DMC 3840 (I think) - I should maybe have used a darker blue floss, but I still like it as it is. The beads are Mill Mill seed and pebble beads.

The way to make this kind of shape is very similar to making the more rounded 15 sided biscornu.

Stitch your 15 squares, all the same size.

Join 5 together to for the top and another 5 for the bottom - you will have 5 left for the sides. Join the five sides to either the top or the bottom - this will give you a kind of bowl shape.

I realised something at this point that I could do to illustrate the difference between the two kinds of 15 sided biscornu -

For the 'normal' rounded version, join the 'peaks' of the flattish side to the 'valleys' of the bowl.

For the alternative version, join the 'peaks' of the flattish side to the 'peaks' of the bowl.

Remember to leave a gap to stuff your biscornu and then sinish stitching together. I found the final stitching together a bit more awkward for this alternative version than previously. Of course, it didn't help that it wasn't until I had finished sewing it all together that I decided to add the beads to the top!

I hope this sense - just the simple change in the orientation of the top makes a complete difference to the final item!

My original 15 sided biscornu tutorial with more detailed instructions can be found here.

Now that is a neat idea. It definitely goes in my list of to-dos. I made a set of smalls for my 13-yr-old granddaughter, who has started cross stitching. It started with some forget-me-not Jacquard ribbon, so the forget-me-nots were the theme through the set. I can make her that pin cushion to add to the group.